Press releases

In 2025, the ELY Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia will open several project applications for the renewed and competent Finland 2021-2027 programme. The company's development grants (ERDF TL1 and TL2 and JTF) can be applied for continuously from 13 January to 30 November 2025. The application period for research and development projects for SMEs and the utilisation of new technology in Northern Finland is 13.1-28.2.2025 and 3.3.-30.4.2025. Operating environment development grant for business networked projects is open 3.2-31.3.2025 . In addition, the application period for company development grants will open in March-April under the theme of sustainable development or digitalisation. The next ERDF application period for the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is 17.2. – 11 April 2025, amounting to approximately EUR 6.7 million. The application period for sustainable urban development will open in the spring and the authorisation is EUR 1 million. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has taken into consideration those who arrived between 30 August and 28 November 2024, for employment and…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia convened its last meeting of the year on Tuesday 17 December in Oulu. At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Baltic Sea Commission, Lucille Ehrhart, presented the topical issues of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission. In matters of lobbying, Regional Director Jussi Rämet told about the decision made by the Parliament on the deputy disbursement of funds for the Northern Ostrobothnia sites and the last meeting of the preparatory group for the Northern Finland Programme. The implementation of the programme will be based on existing funding. The work will be handed over to Prime Minister Orpo in January. The Provincial Director reported on the report by Arto Sulonen and Eero Laesterä, liquidators of the reform of the system of central government transfers, which includes the liquidators' model for a new system of central government transfers for basic municipal services. Toni Saranpää, Administrative Director, opened the draft amendments to procurement legislation. In particular, municipalities are concerned with the possibilities for the public sector to provide support services in in-house units, for which there is a market. Also for the obligation to renew the tendering procedure when a single tender has been received,…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia convened its autumn meeting in Oulu on 9 December 2024. The budget 2025 of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Economic and Operational Plan 2025-2027 were adopted The total budget 2025 for operating revenue is EUR 5 472 374, which has decreased by 7% compared to the 2024 budget. Operating costs amount to EUR 5 699 351, a decrease of 6.5% compared to the previous year's budget. The decrease in the number of own production projects is reflected in the decrease in operating income and costs. In addition, Karelia ENI CBC's access to technical support has ended at the end of September 2024. The result for the financial year, after depreciation during the budget year, is EUR -240 858. EUR 240 858 shall be credited from the Development Fund. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 0. Membership contributions have been increased by 1.9 per cent compared to …

The Regional Government decides to propose to the Regional Council that it approves the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's Economic and Operational Plan 2025-2027 and the Budget 2025. The 2025 budget totals EUR 5 472 374 in operational revenue, which represents a decrease of 7% compared to the 2024 budget. Operating costs amount to EUR 5 699 351, a decrease of 6.5% compared to the previous year's budget. The decrease in the number of own production projects is reflected in the decrease in operating income and costs. In addition, the access to technical support for the Karelia ENI CBC programme has expired at the end of September 2024. Membership contributions have been increased by 1.9% compared to 2024. The result for the financial year after depreciation in the budget year is -240 858…

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has awarded the North Ostrobothnia Prize to Pauli Harju for his outstanding life's work, which has made North Ostrobothnia known and strengthened its identity. Pauli Harju served as Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia from 2008 to 2023. Between 2005 and 2006, he worked as project manager for the PARAS project in the North Ostrobothnia Regional Council. In 2016, Harju took leave of absence and worked at the Ministry of Finance as the change manager of the regional reform, from which he returned to the position of regional director in 2017. Pauli Harju has served as Mayor of Pudasjärvi and Mayor of Taivalkoski. In addition, he has worked as a business ombudsman, managing director, bank manager, district judge, bank lawyer and nominee. Harju has held numerous positions of trust. Harju holds a bachelor's degree in law and was awarded the title of LL.M. in 1985. In rank, he's a major in the reserve. The identity of the largest province in Northern Finland is not …

The next call for proposals under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, organised by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, will take place from 21 October to 16 December 2024 in Northern Ostrobothnia. This is the runway for growth - the product development and internationalisation studies of companies, which will be opened from the ERDF and EUR 1 million will be reserved for it. The next ESF+ call (TL 4) is 16.1.-27.3.2025.  The next call for ERDF projects will be for environmental projects from 16 January to 27 March 2025. JTF skills and employment, as well as restoration and reuse funding, are in constant search. Between 15 January and 1 October 2024, a total of EUR 6 055 829 has been applied for business development grants under axis 1 and 2 and EUR 7 521 880 has been applied for under axis 7 (JTF) from the ELY Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia. Preparation of a regional financing plan for 2025-2026 (Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme) The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, in cooperation with the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, has prepared a proposal…

The provincial government met on Monday 14 October in Oulu. At the beginning of the meeting, Provincial Director Jussi Rämet presented the proposals of the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia for distribution reserve projects, the state of preparation of the Northern Finland programme, and the preparation of the reform of the system of central government transfers for basic municipal services and the EU's multiannual financial framework. Sari Nurro from the provincial government reported on the CPMR meeting in Malta at the beginning of October. The Northern Ostrobothnia Transport System Plan was approved by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) in 2019, and work on updating the Northern Ostrobothnia Transport System Plan started in early 2024. The plan was updated to meet the requirements of the changed world situation. Since the drafting of the transport system plan, several documents guiding the provincial transport system work have been completed or are being completed, such as the national transport system plan, the Northern Transport Strategy, the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2022-2025 and the climate road map for Northern Ostrobothnia. The operating environment and the needs of cross-border transport have changed. For the development of cross-border land transport on …

The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has processed the JTF project applications related to employment and skills in the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which were received for processing between 1 June and 29 August 2024. This is a continuous call for applications until 28 November 2024. Seven JTF ESF-type applications were received for Northern Ostrobothnia. The total amount of aid requested is approximately EUR 1.7 million. Between 1 May and 2 September 2024, no applications were received to process the ongoing call for projects related to JTF restoration and reuse. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has not opened new calls for applications in addition to those previously announced for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme. Applications for the following year are currently planned. The Association had to apply for national AKKE funding for projects that focus on strengthening regional RDI activities. The call was open 22.4.-…

The provincial government met on Tuesday 17 September in Oulu. On lobbying issues, Regional Director Jussi Rämet presented the state of preparation of the Northern Finland Programme and the meeting of the President of the Regional Government Jussi Ylitalo on 19 September. The regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia has progressed to the public consultation of the proposal phase. The proposal material will be available from 23 September to 24 October 2024. The members and participants of the municipalities in the plan area have the right to make a reminder of the plan proposal. The plan proposal and the background information are available on the website of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and at the Regional Council's office. The proposal will be presented online on 3 October 2024. The experts who prepared the plan are available to meet and answer questions in three plan cafés: 30.9. In Haapavesi and 8.10. Pudasjärvi and Oulu. The proposal phase of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia consists of the following documents: Participation and assessment plan, phase regional plan maps 1A and 1…

Preparation of the regional financing plan for 2025-2026 The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has instructed the preparation of the regional financing plans for the current programming period. The financial programming 2025-2026 describes the regional allocation of regional and structural policy funds by priority axis, specific objective and authority. The themes of the Eastern and Northern Finland programmes launched by the Government are recommended to be taken into account when planning the use of funds. Regional councils are responsible for the preparation of financing plans in cooperation with the ELY Centres and regional partners. The financing plans approved by the regional cooperation group will be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment at the end of October. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group decided to forward the preparation of the matter to the Provincial Cooperation Group for information. Update of the North Ostrobothnia Climate Road Map The North Ostrobothnia Climate Road Map 2021-2030, adopted in February 2021, will be updated. The Climate Roadmap has been linked to practical climate action in funding for the current programming period and its priority axis 2 (Carbon-neutral Finland). In addition, information acquired in road map work…